|
|
NIOSH REL: 0.01 mg/m3 TWA, 0.03 mg/m3 STEL [skin]
Current OSHA PEL: 0.01 mg/m3 TWA, 0.04 mg/m3 CEILING
1989 OSHA PEL: 0.01 mg/m3 TWA, 0.03 mg/m3 STEL [skin]
19931994 ACGIH TLV: 0.01 mg/m3 TWA, 0.03 mg/m3 STEL [skin]
Description of substance: Varies
Original (SCP) IDLH: 10 mg Hg/m3
Basis for original (SCP) IDLH: The chosen IDLH is based on the statement by ACGIH [1971] that mice died within 3 to 5 hours at 10 to 30 mg/m3 organic mercury [Trakhtenberg 1950]. The chosen IDLH seems reasonable because NIOSH [1976] cited a mouse intraperitoneal LDLO for dipropylmercury of 2 mg/kg [NRC 1952]. If the IDLH were estimated from this information, a value of 14 mg/m3 would be obtained.
Shortterm exposure guidelines: None developed
ACUTE TOXICITY DATA:
Lethal concentration data:
| ||||||
| HgC4H10
Rat |
Russkykh &Frolova 1973 | |||||
| HgC4H10
Mouse |
Russkykh &Frolova 1973 | |||||
| Hg (organo) alkyl
Mouse | Trakhtenberg 1950 | |||||
| Hg (organo) alkyl
Mouse | Trakhtenberg 1950 |
Lethal dose data:
|
| |||||
| HgC4H10
Rat |
Izmerov et al. 1982 | |||||
| HgC4H10
Mouse |
Izmerov et al. 1982 | |||||
| HgC4H6O4
Rat | Grin et al. 1973 | |||||
| HgC4H6O4
Mouse | Grin et al. Grin et al. 1973 | |||||
| HgC6H12O6
Rat | Frear 1969 | |||||
| HgC6H14
Mouse |
NRC 1952 |
Human data: Deaths have resulted from 3 months exposure
to diethyl mercury at an estimated concentration of 1 mg/m3
[Hill 1943]. The lethal dose of methyl mercury is estimated to
be 200 mg, with paresthesia of the hands, feet, and mouth
occurring at a total body burden of 40 mg [Bakir et al. 1973].
[Note: An oral dose of 200 mg of methyl mercury is equivalent
to a worker being exposed to about 125 mg Hg/m3
for 30 minutes, assuming a breathing rate of 50 liters
per minute and 100% absorption.]
| Revised IDLH: 2 mg Hg/m3
Basis for revised IDLH: The revised IDLH for mercury (organo) alkyl compounds is 2 mg Hg/m3 based on acute toxicity data in humans [Bakir et al. 1973; Hill 1943] and animals [Trakhtenberg 1950]. |
REFERENCES:
1. ACGIH [1971]. Mercury (alkyl compounds). In: Documentation of the threshold limit values for substances in workroom air. 3rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, pp. 151152.
2. Bakir F, Damluji SF, AminZaki L, Murtadha M, Khalidi A, AlRawi NY, Tikriti S, Dhahir HI, Clarkson TW, Smith JC, Doherty RA [1973]. Methyl mercury poisoning in Iraq. Science 181:230241.
3. Frear EH, ed. [1969]. Pesticide index. 4th ed. State College, PA: College Science Publishers, p. 269.
4. Grin NV, Ezmachenko AB, Govozunova NN, Tepukina LA [1973]. Prognosis of the safe concentrations of some soluble compounds of mercury. Gig Sanit 46(8):1214 (in Russian).
5. Hill WH [1943]. A report of two deaths from exposure to the fumes of a diethyl mercury. Can J Public Health 34:158160.
6. Izmerov NF, Sanotsky IV, Sidorov KK [1982]. Toxicometric parameters of industrial toxic chemicals under single exposure. Moscow, Russia: Centre of International Projects, GKNT, p. 52.
7. NIOSH [1976]. OW3225000. Mercury, dipropyl. In: Registry of toxic effects of chemical substances, 1976 ed. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHEW (NIOSH) Publication No. 76191, p. 683.
8. NRC [1952]. Summary tables of biological tests. Washington, DC: National Research Council, Biological Coordination Center, National Academy of Science Library, p. 320.
9. Russkykh VA, Frolova EN [1973]. Materials on substantiation of the maximal permissible concentration of diethylmercury in the air of the working zone. Gig Sanit 38(1):100102 (in Russian).
10. Trakhtenberg IM [1950]. The toxicity of vapors of organic
mercury compounds (ethylmercuric phosphate and ethylmercuric chloride)
in acute and chronic intoxication (experimental data). Gig Sanit
6:1317 (translated).
Go back to the Documentation for Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentrations (IDLHs)